Development of Ultra-High Fiber Count Optical Cable which uses 16-Fiber Rollable Ribbons, and Ribbon Fusion Splicer
- 25% reduction in fusion splicing time compared to conventional 12-fiber ribbons -

July 30, 2021

  • Development of ultra-high fiber count 6,912-fiber optical cable which implements 200 µm thin fiber 16-fiber rollable ribbons
  • 25% reduction in fusion splicing time per cable compared to conventional 12-fiber ribbons
  • Promoting the further spread of 6,912-fiber cables to create high-capacity networks for applications such as data centers

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. (Head Office: 2-6-4 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Keiichi Kobayashi) has developed a thin ultra-high fiber count 6,912-fiber optical cable which implements thin 16-fiber rollable ribbons, as well as the S124M16 ribbon fusion splicer and its related tools. These new products can reduce the time required for fusion splicing and contribute to the expansion of high-capacity networks.

Background

Due to rapid increases in data traffic volume, there are urgent needs for optical fiber networks in data centers to be enhanced for higher capacity use than in the past. Although the March 2018 product introduction of 6,912-fiber cables that can replace conventional 864-fiber cables while having similar outer diameter has made it possible to increase communication capacity by 8 times, there was also an issue of longer fusion splicing work times associated with ultra-high fiber count cables.

Details

We have now developed a 6,912-fiber optical cable by utilizing rollable ribbons in which sixteen (16) thin 200 µm-diameter optical fibers are attached intermittently. In addition, we have concurrently developed the S124M16 ribbon fusion splicer, which has been optimized for fusion splicing 200 μm 16-fiber rollable ribbons, and its related tools, allowing a 25 % reduction in fusion splicing work time per cable.

Furukawa Electric Group’s efforts towards the SDGs

Based on the “Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)” adopted by the United Nations, the Furukawa Electric Group has formulated the “Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030” which sets the year 2030 as its target and is advancing efforts with the aim to “Build a sustainable world and make people’s life safe, peaceful and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy and mobility.” Toward the achievement of our Vision 2030, we will take open, agile, and innovative approaches to promote ESG management that that aims to increase corporate value over the medium to long term and will contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.